SCORE has completely reviewed all available evidence relevant to the Trophy Truck class protest submitted by #97 BJ Baldwin against #21 Gustavo Vildosola, Jr.
The protest alleges that the #21 race vehicle performed a pit service on the highway in violation of SCORE rules within Speed Zone 4 on Highway 5 south of Puertecitos.
A video indicates that a black pickup truck with two male occupants moved directly in front of the #21 race vehicle on the highway and one of the occupants crawled out the sliding rear window and into the open bed. This person reached out and made physical contact with the #21 race vehicle in order to manipulate the front lightbar by using both hands with the intention of adjusting it upward into the correct position. This person then attempted to adjust the lightbar upward with a metal leverage tool.
The #21 Vildosola race team responded to these allegations by stating that the black truck and its occupants were not associated with Vildosola Racing, but could have been fans trying to help out.
SCORE is unable to conclusively determine whether the black truck occupants were in fact associated with the pit support team of Vildosola Racing, but this issue is not relevant to a resolution of the protest.
The issue to be resolved is whether the #21 race vehicle received a pit service from the black truck occupants by allowing and accepting their actions. Receiving assistance from spectators, fans, locals, and other pit teams has always been a part of SCORE Baja racing, but such assistance must be performed within the rules.
SCORE believes the video provides sufficient evidence to conclude that the #21 race vehicle allowed, accepted and received a pit service on the highway. The SCORE rulebook defines a pit service as any service performed on the race vehicle. Therefore, attempting to adjust a lightbar is a pit service. The fact that the pit service in question may have been unsuccessful, and therefore accomplished nothing, is irrelevant.
Since the 2009 SCORE Baja 500, three competitors have been penalized 90 minutes each for pitting on the highway, so in accordance with this past precedent the #21 race team will be penalized 90 minutes.
The 2012 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Trophy Truck results will be adjusted and finalized as follows:
1 - BJ Baldwin - 20:00:59
2 - Mark Weyrich - 20:14:48
3 - Ryan Arciero - 20:37:46
4 - Dan McMillin - 20:38:25
5 - Steve Strobel - 20:39:05
6 - Andy McMillin - 20:43:41
7 - Bryce Menzies - 21:08:03
8 - Gustavo Vildosola, Jr. - 21:15:00
9 - Nick Vanderway - 21:43:38
10 - Sergio Salgado - 21:52:29
11 - Pete Sohren - 22:37:20
12 - Juan C.Lopez - 22:56:36
13 - Tim Herbst - 23:32:23
14 - Cameron Steele - 23:52:42
15 - Jose Flores - 24:07:18
16 - Rob MacCachren - 24:31:49
17 - Jimmy Nuckles - 24:44:28
18 - Armin Schwarz - 31:06:16
19 - Mike Voudouris - 36:32:47
20 - Jay Reichert - 38:16:24
21 - Chris Kemp - 39:48:38

SCORE made the right call. I also have no respect for the Vildosola racing team. Vildosola Jr. blamed it on over zealous fans. I race trucks, and I've had fans pull along side and video the truck. Not once have I ever seen a fan try and wrench on a moving truck. In the video, Jr. makes no attempt to slow or get away. Suck it up and admit your team fucked up.

The no pitting/servicing a moving vehicle was put in place after we at Arciero/Miller re-fueled on Hwy 3 between Trinidad & San Matias. I'm glad they made the rule and I'm glad Sal is enforcing it.

Too bad for Vildosola, it was a bone head call to allow working on the truck while on the highway. One of the bad parts of a run to La Paz is that your resources (and often intelligence) is spread out and there is poor or no communication between resources. Drivers commonly get overwhelmed with the motivation to win and make stupid calls with little input from cooler heads. Robby Gordon is famous for making knee jerk dumb ass decisions.

I think the worst part of this was Vildosola's trying to come up with a lame ass excuse for what happened. They should have kept their mouth shut, Sal said none of it mattered anyway.

I know many guys on the Vildosola team and I think of them as good solid competition and a class act (at least most of the time). I also know many guys on BJ's team and I've even chased for BJ a couple of times. His face book "kiss my ass" comments are over the top and uncalled for. I hate to see Vildosola lose this way and I hate to see BJ win this way.

Please stop with the racial slurs on here. This has nothing to do with America vs Mexico. And please no more bashing the Vildosolas. They broke a rule and got penalized. They are a great family and I enjoy competing against them as do my fellow Trophy Truck racers. In over 15 years of racing, one rule infraction does not make them cheaters so let's try and show a little more respect. Again thanks to my friends, family and fans for all of your support on the enforcement of this rule. Especially the large number of Baja fans that had my back on this. To Tavo and the Vildosola team I have a great amount of respect for all of you and I cordially invite you to the Best In The Desert Parker 425 for a friendly duel in the desert. In light of recent events I think many of our fans would like to see us compete against each other head to head. Believe it or not if I haven't already been in the race truck for 16 hours, and already driven 1020 miles, I'm actually quite the speedy driver ;-) I am keeping my fingers crossed and I hope you accept the challenge. Have a nice weekend my friends!